Michigan State Football: Final score predictions vs. Rutgers in Week 6

Michigan State football has revenge on the mind heading into Week 6.

The Spartans are headed to Piscataway to take on the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers in a Big Ten battle that’s a rematch of last year’s season opener. Greg Schiano is now 1-0 against Mel Tucker, but the second-year MSU coach is trying to change.

Will the Spartans get their revenge? Here’s what our writers think.

Connor Muldowney: We need to stop overlooking Rutgers, especially after what the Scarlet Knights did to the Spartans last season. But turnovers aren’t going to help Rutgers out this time as the Spartans will be much more careful with the ball and Kenneth Walker III will find the end zone three times. Payton Thorne will have another solid game and Michigan State pulls off a nice road win, albeit a close one. Keep choppin’.

Final Score: Michigan State 31, Rutgers 24

Jack Williams: Rutgers looked good early in the year and gave Michigan a fight. I don’t really care about any of this. Last season, Rutgers should have lost to Michigan State, winning relatively narrowly with a +4 in the turnover category — MSU was undeniably the better football team. I don’t believe Rutgers’ improvements in 2021 measure up to Michigan State’s improvements, meaning the Spartans improved from being a slightly better team than the Scarlet Knights to a much better team.

Final Score: Michigan State 34, Rutgers 20

Carter Landis: Going to Rutgers isn’t going to be easy, and the Scarlet Knights are going to give the Spartans everything they have. Defensively, Rutgers is going to fly to the football and be physical, and offensively they are going to try to beat MSU on the ground. Michigan State is the more talented team, and they’ll sneak by with the win.

Final Score: Michigan State 21, Rutgers 17

Conner Linsner: Noah Vedral is one of the worst quarterbacks in the Big Ten. They match up well with Michigan State given the secondary is more of the weaker spots on the defense. Michigan State seems to have a small little rivalry with the Scarlet Knights given Mel Tucker uses the same phrase as Greg Schiano “Keep Chopping.” This one will be fun because the Spartans will get a revenge win from last season.

Final Score: Michigan State 31, Rutgers 14

Stephen Robb: I’ve been conflicted with my prediction. I’m not trying to Graham Couch-it. MSU has looked good in half’s and then terrible in others. However, they are playing Rutgers. This will be a program-defining game. Here is what I mean: if they win, it would confirm their ranking, but if they lose, I’d have to say the bloom has come off the rose. Rutgers has a tough time moving the pigskin. They have a good defense that will make Payton Thorne beat them.

Final Score: Michigan State 17, Rutgers 14